Excavating machine



Jan. 11', 193s. Q JACOBS 2,104,928

EXCAVAT ING MACHINE Filed Jan. 25, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS Jan. 11, 193s. G. JACOBS 2,104,928

EXCAVAT ING MACHINE Filed Jan. 25, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 v INVENTOR. F565. 30

GEORGE JACOBS ATTORNEYS Jan. 11, 1938. G, JACQBS EXGAVATING MACHINE '3 sheets-sheet s Filed Jan. 25, 1937 FlG.

INVENTOR.

GEORGE JACOBS BY ATTORNE s Patented Jan. 11, 1938 EXCAVATIN G George Jacobs, Detroit, Mich., assignor of onethird to Emil Goetz and one-third to Joseph Grant, both of Detroit, Mich.

Application January 25, 1937, Serial No. 122,107

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to excavating machines and more specifically to machines for surface operations in deposits of alluvial material.

Among the objects of the invention is a machine f which shall be of large capacity but simple in construction, and operation and which will not readily clog and thus be subject to breakage and incapacitation; Another object is a machine of the character indicated which is mobile and adapted to travel laterally along the inclined faceV of a deposit of,

` for example, gravel and remove a layer of considerable thickness therefrom, while preparing a flat roadway for'a succeeding operation.

Another object is Vsuch a machine in which the excavated material is transferred from the point of excavation to suitable receivers, such as trucks or treating devices, rapidly and easily.

Still other objects and advantages will readily appear to those skilled lin the art upon reference to the following description and the accompany- 'ing drawings, in which Figure 1 is a more or less schematic view in elevation of the main portions of the machine.

Figure 2 is a plan view with the conveyors omitted.

Figure 3 is a sectional viewon line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a similar sectional view of a portion of the machine on a larger scale.

' Figure 5 is a section along line 5--5 of Figure 4. 'Y Figure 6 is a vertical longitudinal section of another embodiment of the invention.

Figure'? is a horizontal section on line 1 -1 of VFigure 6.

As indicated in the drawings, the machine is to beV rendered mobile by mounting the operating portions upon a Vpropellable chassis having a sutablebed or platform 20 in turn supported upon so-called caterpillar rolling members 2|, driven in any suitable fashion by means (not shown).

Supported at one side of platform 20 is the excavating or diggingelement indicated as a whole at 22. This element is preferably supported on trunnions 23 to permit variation of its angle with respect to the platform orl earth deposit and to permit its being moved to vertical or other position for transportation. At 24 is indicated a block and cable to furnish support or to` eect swinging movement.

The digging element 22 consists of a conical assembly comprising a housing 30, generally conical in shape, but open at one side to allow projection of the earth agitating fingers 3| carried (ci. .e7-190) by the rotatable agitator 32 mounted Within housing 30. The agitator 32 consists of a hollow conical spindle member with the lingers or arms 3| fixed upon its periphery in a plurality of spirals as indicated best in Figure 1.

At the bottom of housing 30 is a plate or closure member 35 adapted to close the space between the housing and the lower edge of the hollow agitator 32 as well as support the latter and its Vdriving means. This plate 35is generally circular but at the portion below the opening in housing 30 is provided with an edged corner portion depressed to form a scoop or skimmer 36 for the purpose of removing that part of the earth deposit not touched by the angularly arranged agitator 32.

standing flange 4D, is xed a ring 4|.

This ring is formed to provide a bearing portion 42 for rollers 43 upon which in turn rests a ring 44 forming a part of the agitator 32. The plate is, as shown, provided with a' peripheral portion 35a in a lower plane, the displacement providing a shoulder 35h serving as a guide for a sleeve 45. This sleeve 45 is fixed to bearing ring 44 and also has fixed to itan internal gear 46. The hollow conical agitator 32 is then fixed to and upon sleeve 45, so that the agitator 32, sleeve 45, and gear 46 form the rotatable assembly carrying the agitator pins 3|.

In order to prevent tipping of the agitator 32 an internal supporting member is provided. This consists of a cylinder 50 xed upon ring 4| through a sleeve 5|.

Cylinder 5|] extends up within agitator 32 about half the length thereof and has bearings, as at 52, upon the inside thereof; suitable antifriction balls or rollers may be provided at this point.

worm wheel 63. 64 upon a shaft 65.

The latter coacts with a worm This shaft 65 extends preferably through one of the trunnions 23, which is made somewhat larger than the otherl and bored axially for this purpose.

Shaft 65 is connected the earth slope and also sweep the material withinthe housing 30 Aaround to an opening 35o in the plate`35, Where it drops upon a suitable con- Z'substantially semicircular.

veyor 15 for transport to a receiver 16. This receiver may be the loading chute for a second conveyor 11 or any other suitable receiver. dicated in Figure 1, there may be a series of such conveyors for lifting the excavated material to any desired height or point. Y i

It is preferred also to depressa portion 35d of plate 35 at the far edge of opening 35o to form a lip or inclined surface opposed to blades 32a as they passover the discharge opening, so as to permit the blades to push back into the digger any large stones which might not readily pass out. Y v

r. In the operation of the excavator upon the alluvial ,deposits for which, it is intended, the entire machine will be propelled parallel with the bank with the element 22 at a suitable angle, which ,angle, in the form shown, should be such an acute angle with the vertical that the line ofthe outer portion of the arms 3| will be at substantially the langle of repose of the earth deposit and with the arms 3| extendingwell beyond the projected area of the chassis.VA H Y Y As the machine is moved along, the element 32 is rotated and loosens the material, which rolls down toward opening 35o largely through gravity. Lifting of material by the'blades 32a'vis therefore necessary with respect to the lower third, or

thereabouts, of the cut.

"The embodiment of thel invention shown in Figures' 'and 7 is` for the purpose of canal excavation in similar'alluvial deposits. Inthis form, the chassis, represented as a whole by the numeral 10D, carries at its forward endthe digging device, which' in 'this "form, isr'shaped like an inverted truncated cone; whenj moved Vforwardduring operation, excavating a channel having a flat bot,- tom kand sloping sides, the Aslope of course being the predetermined angle of the excavator.

The digging or excavating device is construct- -ed in much the same fashion as that of Figures Y1 to 5 in that there is a rotatable central member -|-0| upon the peripheryfof which are the earth agitating arms |02 and a shield'member |03 housing the agitator* member around that portion not Vin contact with the earth bank. In the present case,however,the member |0| is preferably-cylindrical as shown-and shield |03`v is only Since it is desirable'to produce a channel having a hat bottom, the bottom plate |04 will have its forward edge substantiallyv straight or only slightly curved as indicated in Figure'? and depressed as indicatedV in Figure 6, and extending the full width of the lower part of the digger..

Atthe rear portion of plate |04 an opening |05 :is provided and such opening preferably extended by cutting away a' notch in the lower edge of v"s`hield"l|l3. i This opening is of course to permit 4the discharge of dirt from the digger upon a suiton bearings such as have'been described in-connection with Figures 1 to 5, such lbearings vbeing As inindicated at while the motor 2 for driving the rotary member IUI may be mounted therewithin upon the platform |51. This same motor, or another suitably located, may also be used for propulsion of the chassis |00 and conveyor |17.

Now having described the invention and the preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that said invention is to be limited, not to the specic details herein described,V but only by the scope of the claims which follow:V

What I claim is:

1. An excavating machine for alluvial earth deposits :consisting of a propellable chassis, an upwardly extending rotatable spindle at one edge of said chassis, earth agitating arms carried by -said spindle and extending well beyond the projected area of said chassis, a shield or housing for the spindle and arms and enclosing the latter for the greater portion of the periphery thereof, but openover the earth contacting portion, a closure memberat the bottom of said housing and having a discharge opening, a receiver for earth discharged from said housingy and means for rotating said spindle as said Vchassis is propelled.

2. An .excavating machine for alluvial earth deposits consisting of Va propellable chassis, an upwardly extending rotatable spindleat one edge of said chassis arranged at an acute angle to the vertical, earth agitating arms carried .by said spindle andextending well beyond the projected area of said chassis, a shield or housing for the spindle and arms and enclosing the latter for the greater portion of the periphery thereof, but open over the earth contacting portion, a closure member at the bottom of saidV housing and having a discharge opening, Va receiver for earth discharged from said housing, and means for rotating said spindle as said chassis is propelled.

3. An excavating machine forY alluvial ,earth deposits consisting of a propellable chassis,v an upwardly extending rotatablespindle at Vone edge of said chassis, earth agitating arms carried by said spindle and extending well beyond thefprojected area of said chassis, saidspindle and arms forming a conical assembly, a shield or housing for the spindle and arms and enclosing theclatter for the greater portion of the periphery thereof, but open over the earth contacting portioma closure member at the bottom of said housing and having a dischargeopening, a receiver for u earth discharged from saidyhousing, rand means lfor rotating said ,spindle as said chassis is pro- Vjected area of said chassis,V a shield or housing for the spindle and arms and enclosing the latter for the greater portion ofthe periphery thereof, but open over the earth contacting portion, :a

-closure `member atthe bottom of said-:housing Iand having a discharge opening, the outer forward edge of said closure member being formed with a substantially horizontal blade portion, a

Yreceiver for earth discharged `from said housing,

and means for rotating said spindle as .said chassis is propelled.

5. An excavating machine foralluvial earth deposits consisting of a propellable chassis, an upwardly extending rotatable. spindleA at one edge of said chassis, earth agitating arms carried by said spindle and extending'wellbeyond the .pro-

.jected area of said chassis, a shield or housing '75 for the spindle and arms and enclosing the latter for the greater portion of the periphery thereof, but open over the earth contacting portion, said spindle arm and assembly being conical and arranged With the line of the extreme outer part of the earth contacting portion substantially coinciding with the angle of repose of the earth deposit, a closure member at the bottom of said housing and having a discharge opening, a receiver for earth discharged from said housing, and means for rotating said spindle as said chassisis propelled.

6. An excavating machine for alluvial earth deposits consisting of a. propellable chassis, an upwardly extending rotatable spindle at one edge of said chassis, earth agitating arms carried by said spindle and extending Well beyond the projected area of said chassis, a shield or housing for the spindle and arms and enclosing the latter for the greater portion of the periphery thereof, but open over the earth contacting portion, a closure member at the bottom of said housing and having a discharge opening, conveyor means for receiving earth discharged from said opening, and means for rotating said spindle as said chassis is propelled.

'7. An excavating machine for alluvial earth deposits consisting of a propellable chassis, an upwardly extending rotatable spindle at one side of said chassis, earth agitating arms carried by said spindle and extending Well beyond the projected area of said chassis, a shield or housing for the spindle and arms and enclosing the latter for the greater portion of the periphery thereof, but open over the earth contacting portion, a closure member at the bottom of said housing and having a discharge opening, the outer forward edge of said closure member being formed with a substantially horizontal blade portion, conveyor means for receiving earth discharged from said opening, and means for rotating said spindle as said chassis is propelled.

GEORGE JACOBS. 

